A few years back I designed a scale model of the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, probably my favorite helicopter of all time. The experimental Cheyenne featured a variable-pitch pusher prop and small wings, which allowed it to fly much like an airplane and gave it a top speed of nearly 250 MPH. My Cheyenne was based on Align T-Rex 450 hardware, with many customized components to allow it to fit in the slender fiberglass fuselage. The project turned out really well, and I was particularly honored that this little model was awarded first place in the helicopter class at the 2011 Toledo Weak Signals show. My only regret for the Cheyenne was that I didn’t make it bigger. This year I decided it was time to do something about that.

For my larger Cheyenne I’ve settled on Blade 600 X mechanics, “stretched” to 700 size with a longer tail boom and 690mm blades. This will result in a 1/10 scale model 65″ long. As the preliminary line drawing shows, this machine is going to dwarf the previous version.

I drew the fuselage for the Cheyenne in Rhino 3D, which allows me to verify fit for all components. This 3D model will be used to machine a foam plug, which will then be glassed, finished and waxed so that it can be the master for a female fiberglass mold.

Here’s the 450 size Cheyenne at the 2013 MidAm Electric Fly. Photo by John Kauk.

The Cheyenne’s most notable feature was the variable-pitch pusher prop. This and the small wings allowed the AH-56 to fly much like an airplane, hitting speeds up to 250MPH.

The 65″ long fuselage was drawn in Rhino 3D to verify fit for the internal mechanics.

The scale airframe is certainly the star of any scale build, but on a project like the Cheyenne my first priority was to get the mechanics built and test flown. After all, the complex tail unit, with its outrigger tail rotor and variable-pitch pusher prop, is the key to the entire project, so that’s a natural place to start. So let’s set the body aside for now and move on to the mechanics….

When I was a kid living in So. Cal, I seen this helicopter flying around on a few occasions and seen it parked in its “secret fenced area” at I believe Palomar airport. It was parked in an area that had like five fences all around the heli pad and it. Think of a tennis court but with five VERY tall fences around it!!!! I will look forward to seeing the progress.